Officials in the Biden administration are reportedly working to dissuade European allies from reprimanding Iran over its nuclear activities at an upcoming meeting.
The United Kingdom and France are advocating for a formal rebuke of Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) member-state assembly scheduled for early next month. However, the United States is attempting to persuade allies to refrain from voting, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing diplomats involved in the discussions.
The U.S. is also expected to abstain from the censure vote. Despite this, officials have denied that the U.S. is actively lobbying against the measure.
This week, the IAEA revealed that Iran’s stockpile of 60% highly enriched uranium has reached its highest level to date. Top officials believe that Tehran could convert that uranium into weapons-grade fuel in just a matter of days, raising concerns for the U.S. and other Western nations.
The U.S. and its allies in Europe and the Middle East have consistently aimed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. A nuclear deal was signed during the Obama administration but was later abandoned by the Trump administration.
The Biden administration has been advocating for a diplomatic resolution to Iran’s nuclear aspirations. As the IAEA meeting in June approaches, one U.S. official stated that the U.S. is in “tight coordination” with European allies and that speculation about the resolution is “premature.”
“We are increasing pressure on Iran through sanctions and international isolation,” the official noted.
Truth Voices reached out to the White House for comment.
The report comes just a few days after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other high-ranking Iranian officials were killed in a helicopter crash. This incident has prompted a new presidential election, which is scheduled for late June.
